News & Products for the week of October 20th 2025
Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 20th, 2025.
HO scale locomotives
Bachmann Siemens SCV-42 Charger diesel locomotive
Price: $549
Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com
Siemens SCV-42 Charger features:
- Die-cast metal frame
- Clear engine compartment windows with simulated interior details
- Separately applied metal handrails and grab irons
- Factory-applied plastic horns, brake hoses, m.u. cables, windshield wipers, antennas, and mirrors
- TCS WOWSound with Keep-Alive capacitor
Release date: Available now
Road names: VIA Rail Canada.
Rapido SW9 diesel locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $239.95; with DCC and sound, $349.95
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 382 High St., Buffalo, NY 14204; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
SW9 diesel locomotive features:
- Detailed cab interior
- See-through, etched-metal parts
- Based on Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel Division prototypes
- Road-specific details
- Die-cast metal frame
- Rapido semi-scale metal couplers
- Also available painted Industrial Red, Industrial Yellow, and Industrial Blue but unlettered
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Boston & Maine; Canadian National; Canadian Pacific; Erie-Lackawanna; Illinois Central; Louisville & Nashville; New York Central; Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo; and Union Pacific.
HO scale rolling stock
TrainWorld Lionel boxcar
Price: $39.99
Manufacturer: Trainworld, 725 McDonald Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218; 800-541-7010; trainworld.com
TrainWorld Lionel boxcar features:
- TrainWorld exclusive product
Release date: Second quarter 2026
Road names: Pennsylvania RR (Tuscan Red and Brunswick Green) and Union Pacific (Route of the Big Boy scheme.)
WalthersMainline Trinity 3281 two-bay covered hopper
Price: $39.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Trinity 3281 two-bay covered hopper features:
- Separately applied brake gear, running board, discharge gates, inlet hatches, and end ladder cages
- Available in four road numbers per scheme
- 36” metal wheelsets with RP-25 contour
- Proto-Max metal couplers
Release date: Spring 2026
Road names: Winchester & Western; Arkansas Oklahoma; CIT Group; Cementos Mexicanos; Keg River; Norfolk Southern; Omaha, Lincoln & Beatrice; and Union Pacific.
HO scale passenger equipment
Bachmann Siemens Venture passenger cars
Price: Business and coach class cars, $164 each; cab car, $395
Manufacturer: Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; 215-533-1600; bachmanntrains.com
Siemens Venture passenger cars features:
- Available in coach, business, and cab car configurations
- Detailed, illuminated interiors
- Factory-applied details
- Blackened machined metal wheels with RP-25 contours
- Factory-installed E-Z Mate Mark II couplers
- Optional modeler-installed close couplers and NEM couplers included
- Cab car features TCS WOWSound for sound and lighting control (DC and DCC)
- Cab car sound effects include horn, bell, English and French station announcements, and brake effects
- Cab car has light-emitting-diode headlights, ditch lights, marker lights, auxiliary light, and passenger compartment lighting
Release date: Available now
Road names: VIA Rail Canada.
HO scale structures
WalthersCornerstone Glacier Industrial Sands
Price: $57.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Glacier Industrial Sands features:
- Two conveyors, truck fuel tank, main office, and guard shack
- Includes mixing bin, piping, and double loading silos
- Printed company and safety signs
- Railcar loading area with safety harness beam
- Silos (5-1/2″ x 4″ x 11-3/8″), conveyors (4-3/4″ x 1/2″ x 2-3/8″), office (4-1/8″ 1-5/8″ x 3″), bin (5″ x 1-1/8″ x 2″), and fuel tank (4-5/8″ x 1-3/4″)
Release date: Available now
N scale rolling stock
InterMountain Pullman-Standard 5,277-cubic-foot capacity boxcar
Price: $42.95
Manufacturer: InterMountain Railway Co., P.O. Box 839, Longmont, CO 80502; 800-472-2530; intermountain-railway.com
Pullman-Standard 5,277-cubic-foot capacity boxcar features:
- Etched-metal crossover platforms
- Factory-applied grab irons
- InterMountain metal wheelsets
- Prototype-specific doors
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Prototype schemes — Wisconsin Central, Railbox (patched with faded graphics and as-delivered scheme), Canadian Pacific Ry., Chicago & North Western, Golden Triangle RR, Pickens RR, St. Lawrence RR, and St. Marys RR. Famous image (fictional) schemes — Camas Prairie RR Co.; Colorado Midland; New York, Ontario & Western; and Tonopah & Tidewater. Three to six road numbers per scheme.
News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more. Model railroad product news may include HO, N, O, S, and Z scales. Product release dates and prices will vary according to each manufacturer. If you are a manufacturer and have new product releases, please e-mail Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com.